The Wick 338 Manager Rick Johnson discussed the upcoming race schedule with the Select Board this week. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
SOUTHWICK – Rick Johnson, manager of The Wick 338, met with the Select Board this week to discuss the upcoming race schedule for the 2019 season.
Due to other racing organizations having earlier races, The Wick 338 will begin their season with their first race on March 31 at the motocross track in Southwick. The next race will take place on April 7, with both races a part of the NESC (New England Sports Committee).
FELD Entertainment, who hosts the national Supercross series, which is the premier indoor motocross racing organization for the world’s top riders, is seeking to extend their racing season for 12 additional weeks beyond the current May 4 end. The Supercross series attracts thousands of people at the many large arenas and stadiums that host the events and that request for a lengthened season could have a potentially negative effect on the Wick 338 race schedule, including their national race in Southwick which will take place on June 29.
“It would virtually wipe away the national championships, which would take away the Southwick Nationals,” said Johnson.
Despite that, Johnson did say that the factories, like Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki, the primary supporters of Supercross and motocross, turned down FELD Entertainment’s request to extend their season.
Since the factories denied the request, FELD Entertainment has started a campaign to convince supporters and people that they’re the grassroots organization.
Noting that he’s never felt he’s had to publicly promote that The Wick 338 and motocross as grassroots organizations, Johnson believes he has no other choice than to prove that The Wick 338 symbolizes the epitome of being a grassroot organization.
“Now we have to start defending ourselves and really show this is what we do,” said Johnson. “We’re the ones that race every week and make it affordable and approachable for the average rider to race every weekend.”
Because of that, some of the new events and programs to promote the grassroots initiative include holding an amateur day on June 28, the day before the national race on June 29. Johnson wants to promote the fact that The Wick 338 has many opportunities for amateur racers who aren’t the top professional racers in the world.
For the first time ever, The Wick 338 has created a Learn to Ride program, that allows kids that have never ridden a motocross bike before to try it and get the proper tips and training from professionals. Johnson said that he’s working with Kawasaki on this program to purchase their equipment and go around local schools to give the youth this opportunity. The program would take place in the parking lot near the motocross track to give the kids a chance to learn how to ride.
The Wick 338 will also be introducing the 1st annual Ambassador award, which goes to a motocross rider who exemplifies certain qualities that Johnson wants to represent The Wick 338. The award this year has gone to Chris Canning, a New England rider for the NESC, who has won multiple races in the NESC circuit, including placing first in the open expert race at the fall race in Southwick in October of 2018.
“It’s somebody who really handles themselves well on and off the track,” said Johnson. “It’s more of what kind of human being you are, and Chris fits that.”
Johnson also said that Canning will be one of the instructors for the Learn to Ride program.
Johnson will be offering electrical bikes or e-bikes, a growing and popular product in the bicycle industry, at races throughout the 2019 schedule. The e-bikes offered are from Germany and will allow kids to try them out.
“It’s one of the directions we’ll be taking forward with races,” said Johnson.
In attempt to bring in another different opportunity for motocross riders, The Wick 338 will be having a Pedal and Pegs race this year. Calling it a combination of motocross and mountain biking, Johnson said that it’s similar to a biathlon. The race begins on the starting line of the motocross track where riders do three laps and exit the track at the top of the hill. Participants will then shut their engines down, grab a mountain bike and do a six to eight-minute lap in the woods to finish the race.
